Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (693 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A nonionic polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block co-polymer with the general formula HO(c2h4o)a(-c3h6o)b(c2h4o)aH. It is available in different grades which vary from liquids to solids. It is used as an emulsifying agent, solubilizing agent, surfactant, and wetting agent for antibiotics. Poloxamer is also used in ointment and suppository bases and as a tablet binder or coater. (Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 31st ed)
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Pluronic F-108; Pluronic F108; Pluronic F 108; Pluronic F-127; Pluronic F127; Pluronic F 127; Pluronic F68; F68s, Pluronic.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Polyethylene Glycols
Related concepts
- C2H4O
- C3H6O
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 4,469 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Poloxamer” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,392 of them (31.1%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 2,166 records.
Reviews account for 100 records (2.2%) and meta-analyses for 1. Randomized controlled trials number 38 (0.9%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 27 |
| 2000-2009 | 884 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,166 |
| 2020 onward | 1,392 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 100 | 2.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 1 | 0.0% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 38 | 0.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Poloxamer"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study of pluronic polymer-bound doxorubicin (SP1049C) in patients with advanced cancer | 2004 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 234 | cc by PMID 15150584 · DOI · PMC2409484 |
| Inhibitory effect of the reversal agents V-104, GF120918 and Pluronic L61 on MDR1 Pgp-, MRP1- and MRP2-mediated transport | 2000 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 163 | cc by PMID 10917553 · DOI · PMC2374556 |
| Polyrotaxane-based supramolecular theranostics | 2018 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 154 | cc by PMID 29472567 · DOI · PMC5823937 |
| Conceptualization and Preliminary Characterization of Poloxamer-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications | 2025 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 10 | cc by PMID 40383977 · DOI · PMC12186842 |
Phase I dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study of pluronic polymer-bound doxorubicin (SP1049C) in patients with advanced cancer [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- SP1049C is a novel anticancer agent containing doxorubicin and two nonionic pluronic block copolymers.
- Closing excerpt
- Phase II trials with this agent are now warranted to further define its antitumour activity and safety profile.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
SP1049C is a novel anticancer agent containing doxorubicin and two nonionic pluronic block copolymers. In preclinical studies, SP1049C demonstrated increased efficacy compared to doxorubicin. The objectives of this first phase I study were to determine the toxicity profile, dose-limiting toxicity, maximum tolerated dose and pharmacokinetic profile of SP1049C, and to document any antitumour activity. The starting dose was 5 mg m(-2) (doxorubicin content) as an intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks for up to six cycles. A total of 26 patients received 78 courses at seven dose levels. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression and DLT was reached at 90 mg m(-2). The maximum tolerated dose was 70 mg m(-2) and is recommended for future trials. The pharmacokinetic profile of SP1049C showed a slower clearance than has been reported for conventional doxorubicin. Evidence of antitumour activity was seen in some patients with advanced resistant solid tumours. Phase II trials with this agent are now warranted to further define its antitumour activity and safety profile.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 15150584 · DOI · PMC2409484
Inhibitory effect of the reversal agents V-104, GF120918 and Pluronic L61 on MDR1 Pgp-, MRP1- and MRP2-mediated transport [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The human multidrug transporter MDR1 P-glycoprotein and the multidrug resistance proteins MRP1 and MRP2 transport a range of cytotoxic drugs, resulting in multidrug resistance in tumour cells.
- Closing excerpt
- Unexpectedly, export of the organic anion calcein by MDCKII-MRP1 and MDCKII-MRP2 cells is stimulated by Pluronic L61, probably because it relieves the block on entry of calcein AM into the cell by endogenous MDR1 Pgp.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (201 words)
The human multidrug transporter MDR1 P-glycoprotein and the multidrug resistance proteins MRP1 and MRP2 transport a range of cytotoxic drugs, resulting in multidrug resistance in tumour cells. To overcome this form of drug resistance in patients, several inhibitors (reversal agents) of these transporters have been isolated. Using polarized cell lines stably expressing human MDR1, MRP1 or MRP2cDNA, and 2008 ovarian carcinoma cells stably expressing MRP1 cDNA, we have investigated in this study the specificity of the reversal agents V-104 (a pipecolinate derivative), GF120918 (an acridone carboxamide derivative also known as GG918), and Pluronic L61 (a (poly)oxypropethylene and (poly)oxypropylene block copolymer). Transport experiments with cytotoxic drugs with polarized cell lines indicate that all three compounds efficiently inhibit MDR1 Pgp. Furthermore, V-104 partially inhibits daunorubicin transport by MRP1 but not vinblastine transport by MRP2. V-104 reverses etoposide resistance of 2008/MRP1 cells, whereas GF120918 does not reverse resistance due to MRP1. V-104 partially inhibits the export of the organic anion dinitrophenyl S-glutathione by MDCKII-MRP1 but not by MDCKII-MRP2 cells. Unexpectedly, export of the organic anion calcein by MDCKII-MRP1 and MDCKII-MRP2 cells is stimulated by Pluronic L61, probably because it relieves the block on entry of calcein AM into the cell by endogenous MDR1 Pgp.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 10917553 · DOI · PMC2374556
Polyrotaxane-based supramolecular theranostics [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The development of smart theranostic systems with favourable biocompatibility, high loading efficiency, excellent circulation stability, potent anti-tumour activity, and multimodal diagnostic functionalities is of importance for future clinical application.
- Closing excerpt
- These supramolecular nanomedicines also exhibit excellent anti-tumour performance against orthotopic breast cancer and prevent lung metastasis with negligible systemic toxicity.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (148 words)
The development of smart theranostic systems with favourable biocompatibility, high loading efficiency, excellent circulation stability, potent anti-tumour activity, and multimodal diagnostic functionalities is of importance for future clinical application. The premature burst release and poor degradation kinetics indicative of polymer-based nanomedicines remain the major obstacles for clinical translation. Herein we prepare theranostic shell-crosslinked nanoparticles (SCNPs) using a β-cyclodextrin-based polyrotaxane (PDI-PCL-b-PEG-RGD⊃β-CD-NH2) to avoid premature drug leakage and achieve precisely controllable release, enhancing the maximum tolerated dose of the supramolecular nanomedicines. cRGDfK and perylene diimide are chosen as the stoppers of PDI-PCL-b-PEG-RGD⊃β-CD-NH2, endowing the resultant SCNPs with excellent integrin targeting ability, photothermal effect, and photoacoustic capability. In vivo anti-tumour studies demonstrate that drug-loaded SCNPs completely eliminate the subcutaneous tumours without recurrence after a single-dose injection combining chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. These supramolecular nanomedicines also exhibit excellent anti-tumour performance against orthotopic breast cancer and prevent lung metastasis with negligible systemic toxicity.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 29472567 · DOI · PMC5823937
Conceptualization and Preliminary Characterization of Poloxamer-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Poloxamers are widely used in biomedical applications, but their effectiveness depends on achieving an optimal sol-gel phase transition near body temperature.
- Closing excerpt
- These triblock copolymer systems indicated useful characteristics for surgical applications, such as favorable sol-gel transition kinetics and biocompatibility, suggesting potential applications in osteoarticular regeneration.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (181 words)
Poloxamers are widely used in biomedical applications, but their effectiveness depends on achieving an optimal sol-gel phase transition near body temperature. This study evaluates three different poloxamer mixtures for their potential in treating meniscus tears, focusing on gel formation, injectability, and cell compatibility. The rheological properties, cytotoxicity assessments, and cellular migration experiments were studied using NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells as the standard experimental model for primary research. The poloxamer hydrogels showed properties well suited to injectable or drug delivery systems. Specifically, the combination of Synperonic F108 and Poloxamer 188 tended to show less adhesion and more aggregation, followed by a greater number of viable cells, suggesting its utility as a coating or foundational matrix. Concurrently, the Kolliphor 407 and Poloxamer 188 combination exhibited increased viscosity, maintaining a gel state at physiological temperature. Its biocompatibility indicated the potential for injectable controlled-release systems for musculoskeletal injuries. Our findings demonstrate that the poloxamer concentration and composition significantly influence their biomedical applications. These triblock copolymer systems indicated useful characteristics for surgical applications, such as favorable sol-gel transition kinetics and biocompatibility, suggesting potential applications in osteoarticular regeneration.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40383977 · DOI · PMC12186842
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Long-circulating and target-specific nanoparticles: theory to practice [5]
- Research article A review of poloxamer 407 pharmaceutical and pharmacological characteristics [6]
- Research article Pluronic block copolymers as novel polymer therapeutics for drug and gene delivery [7]
- Research article Pluronic block copolymers for overcoming drug resistance in cancer [8]
- Research article Applications of thermo-reversible pluronic F-127 gels in pharmaceutical formulations [9]
- Research article Polymeric micelles for delivery of poorly water-soluble compounds [10]
References
- Danson S, Ferry D, Alakhov V, Margison J, Kerr D, Jowle D, et al.. Phase I dose escalation and pharmacokinetic study of pluronic polymer-bound doxorubicin (SP1049C) in patients with advanced cancer. . 2004. PMID 15150584 · DOI · PMC2409484
- Evers R, Kool M, Smith AJ, van Deemter L, de Haas M, Borst P. Inhibitory effect of the reversal agents V-104, GF120918 and Pluronic L61 on MDR1 Pgp-, MRP1- and MRP2-mediated transport. . 2000. PMID 10917553 · DOI · PMC2374556
- Yu G, Yang Z, Fu X, Yung BC, Yang J, Mao Z, et al.. Polyrotaxane-based supramolecular theranostics. . 2018. PMID 29472567 · DOI · PMC5823937
- Tuszynska M, Skopinska-Wisniewska J, Bartniak M, Bajek A. Conceptualization and Preliminary Characterization of Poloxamer-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications. . 2025. PMID 40383977 · DOI · PMC12186842
- Moghimi SM, Hunter AC, Murray JC. Long-circulating and target-specific nanoparticles: theory to practice. Pharmacol Rev. 2001. PMID 11356986 · DOI
- Dumortier G, Grossiord JL, Agnely F, Chaumeil JC. A review of poloxamer 407 pharmaceutical and pharmacological characteristics. Pharm Res. 2006. PMID 17096184 · DOI
- Kabanov AV, Batrakova EV, Alakhov VY. Pluronic block copolymers as novel polymer therapeutics for drug and gene delivery. J Control Release. 2002. PMID 12175737 · DOI
- Kabanov AV, Batrakova EV, Alakhov VY. Pluronic block copolymers for overcoming drug resistance in cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2002. PMID 12204601 · DOI
- Escobar-Chávez JJ, López-Cervantes M, Naïk A, Kalia YN, Quintanar-Guerrero D, Ganem-Quintanar A. Applications of thermo-reversible pluronic F-127 gels in pharmaceutical formulations. J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2006. PMID 17207417
- Kwon GS. Polymeric micelles for delivery of poorly water-soluble compounds. Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst. 2003. PMID 14959789 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.